Bachelor of Arts in Dance & Theatre

New York City: A train ride away. If you’re a student in our dance and theatre program, you will study with faculty who are professional choreographers, directors, playwrights, dancers, dance therapists, theatre educators and actors with years of experience on and off Broadway. Our dance curriculum focuses on a sequential study of contemporary dance technique employing a variety of current and traditional styles and methods, with an emphasis on composition and choreography. Theatre training includes a sequential study of acting, voice, and speech, dramatic literature, as well as directing and design.

Overview

Your dance and theatre training goes beyond the studio and the stage. The liberal arts are at the core of every Manhattanville education and our program is no different. At the same time that you develop practical skills in technique and performance, your core classes in the humanities, and math and sciences will help you develop into an articulate, literate, and socially aware citizen. The goal of our department is to enliven the mind and express the creative spirit that lies within us all. Your studies will combine knowledge with experience, exploration of technique with the study of performance history, theory, and critical research. This mode of study is comparable to the relationship between lecture and laboratory in liberal arts science courses, such as Biology.

You’ll explore the collaborative frontiers where dance and theatre meet.

Majors in our areas of concentration - dance, theatre and dance therapy are accepted by audition. The course of study culminates in a guided senior thesis project of your devising, which reflects your influences and interests.

Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to pursue internships for credit at any of several studios, theaters and other outlets in New York City.

Degree

Bachelor of Arts. Students can also choose to minor in Dance or Theatre. Majors can concentrate in the following areas: Dance, Theatre or Dance Therapy.

Career ideas

Actor/Actress, Arts Administration, Choreographer, Costume Designer, Dance or Drama Teacher, Dance Therapist, Dancer, Director, Dramaturge, Entrepreneur, Event Planner, Lighting Designer, Playwright, Producer, Production Assistant, Public Relations Practitioner, Recreational Therapist, Set Designer, Somatic Body Therapist, Stage Crew, Stage Manager, Technical Director, TV or Radio Broadcaster.

A Results-Oriented Education

We believe higher education elevates students' knowledge both academically and practically. That's why we offer 50+ undergraduate areas of study and 70+ graduate programs, degrees, and certificates reinforced by internships, career counseling, mentors, and networking opportunities. We call it outcomes-based learning.

Location

Our 100-acre, picturesque campus is located in a safe and scenic community in Westchester County, just 30 minutes away from Manhattan, which provides our students with many cultural experiences, and internship opportunities.

Service

Manhattanville students completed more than 30,000 hours of service last year in their community and abroad. There are more than 60 outlets for community service available on campus and more than 600 Valiants give their time to service projects.

Academic Excellence

45 undergraduate majors and minors. 75 graduate degrees and advanced certificates. executive and continuing education. A faculty of 90% with PhDs or the highest degree in their field.

Inspired by their environment

Grounds designed by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and the castle design of Reid Hall provide an inviting backdrop for learning. Inspired by their environment, Valiants form a close-knit, active community with shared values and a drive to achieve.

Meaningful Action

Since Manhattanville’s inception as a Catholic academy in 1841, we have believed education is most transformative when tied to acts of service and the will to lead ethically and responsibly. That belief was evident when President Grace Cowardin Dammann, RSCJ, encouraged students to work with underprivileged children during the Great Depression and World War II and is still visible today with our students donating more than 32,000 hours to community service and social justice projects. Still committed to the values that shaped its founders’ belief in the liberal arts, the College became coeducational in 1971 and independent of the Society of the Sacred Heart after 1971.

Community Foremost

As much as we enjoy the world beyond Manhattanville's grounds—surrounding Westchester County, nearby New York City—we're just as happy with the community we've built here. Manhattanville's historic buildings and stately grounds provide a picturesque setting for learning, while students from more than 30 states and 50 countries reflect the changing demographics of our workplaces and networks, well preparing graduates for their future careers and communities.

30,000+ HOURS STUDENTS GAVE TOWARDS LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNITY SERVICE

60+ COMMUNITY SERVICE OUTLETS ON THE MANHATTANVILLE CAMPUS

500+ STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES